The Solvent Extractors' Association of India

22/09/2026

Today's Press Clips

18/09/2026

“IMPORT DUTY REDUCTION NEED RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN CONSUMERS & FARMERS”: ‘SEA’ ON ZEE BUSINESS
The debate on import duty reduction on edible oil is heating up, and the timing is critical, with the soybean crop about to enter the market.
With edible oil prices having risen around 15% over the past year, the government is considering a 5% reduction in import duty. But will it meaningfully ease the consumer’s burden or could the timing send the wrong signal to farmers just as soybean arrivals begin?
The issue came sharply into focus during a discussion on Zee Business with Dr BV Mehta, ED, SEA and Atul Chaturvedi, Chairman, APOA & Advisor, SEA and Mr. D. N. Pathak, ED, SOPA; with Mrituenjay Jha, Commodity Editor, Zee Business.
Atul Chaturvedi pointed out that market prices have already softened by ₹5–7/kg, even before any duty reduction, suggesting that consumers are already seeing some relief. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining the 19.25% differential between crude and refined oils and noted that soybean prices are influenced significantly by the economics of deoiled meal, which accounts for the larger share of soybean value. Most importantly, he shared that this duty reduction may help regulate Nepal imports to some extent, which will be a good side effect of the reduction.
Dr. Mehta brought the consumer-inflation perspective into focus. With food inflation at 5.52% in July, and 5.95% in August, international edible oil prices rising, the rupee depreciating and freight and insurance costs adding to the landed cost, he argued that the overall increase in costs has been significantly higher than the rise seen in domestic prices. A 5% duty reduction, he said, could potentially translate into around ₹3–4/kg benefit for consumers.
But the farmer equation cannot be overlooked. With soybean prices currently revolving around MSP levels and the new crop approaching, the industry is watching closely to see how policy signals could influence farm-gate prices.
As Atul Chaturvedi summed it up, lower soybean production this year could keep the industry actively chasing supplies, potentially supporting better realisations for farmers.
"The key is to strike the right balance between protecting consumer interests today and maintaining the right price signals for farmers tomorrow," adds Dr Mehta.
Check out the experts’ complete debate here:
https://x.com/zeebusiness/status/2100557011624890402?s=48
SEA Team

18/09/2026

KEEP 19.25% CRUDE-REFINED DIFFERENTIAL INTACT, WHILE USING OTHER POLICY INSTRUMENTS, COULD HELP BALANCE FARMERS & CONSUMERS”: SEA PRESIDENT & PATANJALI FOODS CEO SANJEEV ASTHANA ON ZEE BUSINESS
Should edible oil import duty be reduced by another 5%?
This was the key issue discussed by Sanjeev Asthana, CEO, Patanjali Foods, with Mrituenjay Jha, Commodity Editor on Zee Business.
“We need to understand that global edible oil prices have moved sharply in last one year. Palm oil has risen from around $1,170 to $1,290/tonne CNF, soybean oil from $1,190 to $1,300, and sunflower oil from $1,270 to $1,400, ranging from roughly 10% to 25% across these oils,” starts Sanjeev Asthana
Explaining it further, he adds, “The kharif harvest is just weeks away, with soybean arrivals expected to begin in the market over the next 3–4 weeks. A sudden reduction in import duty could transmit lower landed prices into the domestic market precisely when farmers are bringing their produce to market. At the same time, with the festive season approaching, consumers and businesses are also watching edible oil prices closely.”
The balance is the challenge here, to protect the farmer without creating unnecessary pressure on the consumer.
“India already has an important policy cushion, the 20% differential between crude and refined edible oils,” he adds while sharing about the multiple policy tools available to manage farmer-side pressure, including MSP procurement, Bhavantar-type mechanisms, and purchases through agencies such as NAFED and NCCF.
So, what should be the right cut? “With 5% cut, consumers will get a benefit of around 3-4 INR and with 10%, it will be around 5-6 INR /per Kg” Mr. Asthana answers.
Sharing further he adds, “If international prices continue to rise, and domestic crop estimates remain uncertain particularly with mixed crop conditions across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka and weather-related risks, a duty reduction could surely become an important option to contain consumer inflation.”
For the complete interview, click here:
https://x.com/ZeeBusiness/status/2100491617685873088
SEA Team

16/09/2026

India’s Edible Oil Imports UP 4%; Soybean Oil Surges in August!
Edible oil imports reached 15.72 lakh tonnes in August 2026, marginally higher than 15.49 lakh tonnes in July.
The standout trend is soybean oil. Crude soybean oil imports jumped to 5.54 lakh tonnes in August, up 11% month-on-month, while refined soybean oil imports rose 19% to 74,000 tonnes. This sharp increase highlights the growing role of soybean oil in India’s import basket.
Cumulatively, during November 2025–August 2026, total vegetable oil imports stood at 138.84 lakh tonnes, up 4% from 133.37 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year. Edible oil imports rose even faster, reaching 136.20 lakh tonnes, a 5% increase.
SEA Team

16/09/2026

"NEPAL EDIBLE OIL IMPORTS COULD BE HIGHER THIS YEAR; CANALIZATION, QUOTAS, CoO & MIP WILL REGULATE THE INFLUX": 'SEA' ON ZEE BUSINESS
Imports of edible oil from Nepal are rising persistently, raising concerns for India’s domestic oilseed farmers, refiners and the broader edible oil industry.
Speaking with Mrituenjay Jha, Commodity Editor, Zee Business, Dr BV Mehta, ED, The Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, along with other panelists, highlighted that imports from Nepal were around 7 lakh tonnes last year, while imports have already touched nearly 80,000 tonnes in August alone, pointing to a significantly higher number this year.
“It’s all about duty differential! Imports from Nepal enjoy zero duty under the SAFTA framework, and what we gathered over the period of time is that India’s ability to make unilateral changes is constrained by the bilateral nature of the arrangement. SEA and other industry associations have repeatedly flagged the issue with the government,” shares Dr Mehta, who pointed out that imports from Sri Lanka have also started coming in, taking advantage of similar duty differentials under SAFTA.
“We’ve suggested, in our meeting with the ministry in the past, that canalisation through a designated government agency and a quota-based mechanism could help India regulate the inflow and prevent excessive concentration in particular markets like eastern UP. A well-defined Minimum Import Price (MIP) is another option which could help address under-pricing,” Dr Mehta suggests.
Sharing further, he adds, “Another critical safeguard is the Certificate of Origin. The zero-duty benefit should be restricted to products genuinely manufactured in Nepal and should not become a route for third-country products to enter India.”
Also on the panel, Asia Palm Oil Alliance Chairman Atul Chaturvedi, also Advisor, SEA, called the rising imports a matter of serious concern, particularly when Nepal itself is not a major producer of edible oils. He cautioned that if the economics remain attractive, investment could eventually move to Nepal’s refining capacity simply to access the Indian market at zero duty.
The implications extend beyond industry. Revenue foregone, competitive pressure on Indian refiners and potential adverse impact on domestic oilseed farmers all need to be factored into the policy response. “In terms of revenue, India is at a loss of around 2000 crores,” he adds.
SEA’s stand is clear – Considering our good relations with Nepal the aim isn’t to restrict legitimate trade. It is to ensure that the zero-duty SAFTA benefit is not misused, and that trade policy remains aligned with the interests of farmers, consumers and the domestic processing industry. With major industry leaders on the panel and sounding the alarm, it's high time for the government to look into it!
For the complete interview, click the link below:
https://youtu.be/oTEKL_YjXK0
SEA Team

"NEPAL Edible OIL IMPORTS COULD BE HIGHER THIS YEAR; CANALIZATION, ...

10/09/2026

Oilmeal Exports down by 13% in Q1 FY 26–27!
India’s oilmeal exports, in Q1 FY 2026–27, stood at 9.57 lakh tonnes during April–June 2026, down 13% from 10.95 lakh tonnes a year ago, with June alone registering a sharp 31% decline.
Yet, beneath the decline, an interesting shift is emerging: China, Bangladesh and Vietnam are increasingly becoming key destinations for Indian oilmeal. China imported an impressive 3.13 lakh tonnes during April–June, led overwhelmingly by rapeseed meal. Bangladesh imported 1.43 lakh tonnes, while Vietnam bought nearly 91,000 tonnes.
Rapeseed meal has emerged as the strongest pillar, with 6.60 lakh tonnes exported in Q1, more than offsetting some of the weakness in soybean meal. China alone absorbed nearly 3.10 lakh tonnes of Indian rapeseed meal.
Indian soybean meal continues to face a tough global pricing battle against competitively priced supplies from Argentina and Brazil. High domestic prices, strong local feed demand, elevated freight costs and continuing Red Sea disruptions are further squeezing export competitiveness.
SEA Team

10/09/2026

Today's Press Clips

09/09/2026

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